MARION COUNTY, FL – A two-vehicle collision in Marion County Saturday afternoon claimed the lives of both drivers, authorities said.
According to WCJB, deputies with the Florida Highway Patrol responded to the scene on SE Maricamp Road at about 2:15 p.m. and found the two victims in their cars.
An investigation determined that a 71-year-old woman was driving on the roadway when she crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a car driven by a 79-year-old man.
As Hurricane Idalia makes its way through Florida, already causing flooding in some coastal areas, parts of the State’s Gulf Coast are expected to see deadly storm surge that officials are describing as non-survivable.
In addition, a tornado watch is also in effect for central and western Florida, including the Tampa Bay area, until 6 a.m. Wednesday. Tornadoes are frequently connected with the outer bands of tropical systems that make landfall.
Idalia is anticipated to strengthen to a Category 3 hurricane before reaching the Big Bend region, which contains Taylor County and is located just southeast of the state capital, Tallahassee. Idalia will bring strong gusts and a storm surge of 10 to 15 feet to the area, which is enough water stacked to reach halfway up an average building’s second level.
Evacuation orders are mandatory in at least 28 counties. You can view them here.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identifies storm surge as the reason for most storm evacuations and the cause for about half of all hurricane-related fatalities.
If you are in an evacuation zone, our Florida Hurricane and Storm Damage Lawyers at Whittel & Melton urge you to get to safety. Remember, you do not have to leave the State – sometimes you just need to travel tens of miles (not hundreds) to get to a safer spot.
After Idalia hits, and you can make it safely back to your home, assessing the damage is an important task. We have a few tips that can make filing an insurance claim less stressful.
Fully evaluate your losses: The goal of insurance is to compensate you for your actual losses. Making a thorough record of your losses, complete with images, estimated values, purchase dates, and information on the damage sustained, will help to support your claim.
GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol said a pedestrian died after being hit by a truck on Interstate 75 Saturday morning, according to the Main Street Daily News.
An investigation indicated that the 18-year-old victim was walking on I-75 during the night and was then hit by a southbound tractor-trailer near mile marker 380 shortly before 8:30 a.m. The truck driver, a 58-year-old man from Cocoa, notified state troopers that he had struck something in the southbound lanes near a rest stop but was unsure what he had hit.
The pedestrian, a Gainesville resident, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
MOUNT DORA, FL – Police in Lake County said a pedestrian died following a crash last week, according to Inside Lake.
The victim was believed to have been walking in the roadway on County Road 19A near Progress Boulevard in Mount Dora Tuesday at about 1 a.m. when he was hit by a motorcycle.
The pedestrian, identified as 42-year-old Jason Bowlin, suffered fatal injuries. The motorcyclist, 38-year-old Brandon Crunk, was hospitalized in critical condition.
PASCO COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol released details of a deadly pedestrian accident that occurred on Monday night.
According to the Suncoast News, the incident occurred at the intersection of Little Road and Schrader Boulevard.
The FHP said a pedestrian was walking west across the road at about 6:50 p.m. when he entered the path of an SUV going south on Little Road and was struck by the vehicle.
CITRA, FL – The driver of a pickup truck died following an accident in Citra on Friday, according to Ocala.com.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the crash took place on County Road 318 near Northeast 199th Street Road. According to the FHP, the pickup truck driver was headed north on County Road 318 at about 5:46 p.m. when the vehicle went off the road, onto the west shoulder and collided with a traffic sign.
The driver lost control, drove back onto the road and then onto the opposite shoulder, and ended up crashing into a utility pole and a tree.
PASCO COUNTY, FL – State troopers said an accident in Pasco County involving an all-terrain vehicle left a young boy critically injured.
According to the Suncoast News, the crash happened Saturday night on State Road 52 near Palm Street shortly before 10:30 p.m.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 9-year-old boy was driving a Side-By-Side ATV eastbound on the grass shoulder of State Road 52 shortly before 10:30 p.m. As the boy tried to cross State Road 52, the ATV hit the back of a passing Toyota Camry that was also going east on the roadway. The ATV overturned in the westbound lane while the Camry collided with a ditch along the north shoulder.
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL -Drivers encountered road closures in a portion of Alachua County Friday afternoon following what authorities said was a major crash.
In a Facebook post, the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office said the accident with serious injury happened near N Highway 301 and SE 201st Terrace in Citra. No information was released on who had been injured.
The northbound lanes of N Highway 301 were closed to all traffic at the intersection with E Highway 318. All lanes were reported to have reopened by 12:49 p.m.
ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – A pickup truck accident in Alachua County last week left a driver dead, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The Main Street Daily News reports a woman was driving north on Interstate 75 in a Ford F-150 when the crash occurred Tuesday night at about 11:25 p.m.
The FHP said the driver went off the right shoulder off the I-75 mile marker 384 entrance ramp for Archer Road. The vehicle overturned and ended up against a chain link fence.
GAINESVILLE, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene of a bicycle accident Tuesday night, reports WCJB.
It happened in the vicinity of Northwest 39th Avenue and Northwest 53rd Street in Gainesville shortly before 6 p.m.
According to state troopers, a man riding a bicycle was struck near the intersection by a 2011 Nissan. The bicyclist suffered injuries that were not regarded as life-threatening and was transported to an area hospital. The victim’s identity was not disclosed.
